Movember means mustaches for men’s health awareness

On Oct. 30, otherwise known as “Movember Eve,” UIC faculty will kick off the month of “Movember” with a mid-day series of talks on men’s health issues and related UIC research.

The national Movember movement started as a way for men to spark conversation and raise awareness of men’s health issues, especially prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health. Participants start off clean-shaven Oct. 30 and grow mustaches throughout the month of November.

“The idea is that the mustaches are a conversation starter to talk about men’s health issues,” said Michael Abern, director of urologic oncology at UI Health. This is the second year that Abern has led the UIC Movember team.

The talks will be held 11 a.m. through 1 p.m. in 206 Student Center West.

Speakers include:

• Lisa Tussing-Humphries, assistant professor of medicine: diet and cancer survivorship

• Eduardo Bustamante, assistant professor of kinesiology and nutrition: the benefits and importance of physical activity

• Karriem Watson, administrator of community engaged research: community access and resources

• Abern: testis and prostate cancer.

For more information, visit the UIC department of urology website.

Editor’s note: this article has been updated to reflect changes in the scheduled speakers.